Climate Change Cell
We are exposed to climate change through changing weather patterns (temperature, precipitation, sea-level rise and more frequent extreme events such as heat waves, floods, storms, fires and droughts.) and indirectly through changes in water, air and food quality and changes in ecosystems, agriculture, industry and settlements and the economy.
Although the challenge of climate change is universal, the ability to effectively adapt climate change impact is not. Many of the developing countries have seriously inadequate capacities, limited knowledge and skills to design and implement adequate climate policies and programmes, and these countries cannot mitigate to climate change without first having the capacity, knowledge and skills to do so. Pakistan is a developing country which is one of the most climate vulnerable in the world (Seventh on the list of countries most vulnerable to climate change by the German Watch Global Climate Risk Index 2017). Coupled with socio-economic pressures, poverty, growing population, limited adaptive capacity, corruption and poor local governance makes the country adversely affected by climate change.
Pakistan ratified the Paris Climate Change Agreement and approved the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and Pakistan Climate Change Bill 2016. Implementation of the Paris Agreement under Article 11 will require Pakistan to have the necessary skills and knowledge to implement its Nationally Determined Contributions and comply with monitoring and reporting requirements. Therefore, the need for improvement in the capacity building, knowledge and skills to adapt to climate change is essential.
Genesis of the Climate Change Cell SBBWU Peshawar
National Climate Change Policy 2012 of Pakistan suggests important policy to enhancement of access of the vulnerable segments of society (poor and women) to adaptation technologies; study of gender differentiated impacts of climate change; and greater involvement of women and female gender experts in decision making and actions related to climate change. In this context, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University is rightly placed for research, information and education on climate change issues.
The idea of a Climate Change Cell was conceived by the worthy Vice Chancellor Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar, Prof. Dr. Razia Sultana at a meeting and the establishment of the Climate Change Cell was formally announced at the 3rd Convocation of SBBWUP on 28th March 2017. The Cell will be the key node for information and research on climate change issues and on the responses to managing and adapting to climate change in Pakistan.
Mission Statement
The Climate Change Cell will support the people, communities and institutions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as Pakistan as it will address the impact of climate change through research, awareness enhancing and capacity building. It will foster dialogue and facilitate platform in which government departments, the private sector, educational institutions, research organizations and civil society can work together to develop local, national and regional programmes to combat adverse climate change effects and create opportunities for sustainable development.
Area of Interest/Research
The Climate Change Cell is particularly interested in the areas of Biodiversity particularly, encouragement of participation of local communities in conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, impact of Industries on Climate Change, Comparative Politics of Climate Change, Climate Change and Local Governance, Policy, Advocacy and public awareness and education. However, the interest and research will not be limited to these areas. Legal Aspects of Climate Change, Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change on key sectors of Pakistan economy, Health Vulnerability of Communities, vulnerable Ecosystems, Renewable Energy Resources, Sustainable Tourism, and Green Business etc. will also be the consideration of the Cell.
Characteristics of Climate Change Cell
The Climate Change Cell will have following characteristics:
- Multi-disciplinary collaboration with researchers and faculty members of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, from important divisions of climate change: Scientists, Political Scientists, Economists, Management Scientists and Legal experts etc.
- Links with Government Departments, Local and International Organizations, Educational Institutions Working on Climate Change.
- Frequent public awareness raising, education and capacity building of researchers, educators and students on climate change.
- Dissemination of climate change information through Reports, Policy Papers, Web Page, Seminars and Conferences.
The Role of The Climate Change Cell
Short Term (1 Year)
- Women Forum for Climate Resilience: the women students will be engaged in dialogue, campaigns, tree plantation and research activities about the global warming and climate change and its impact with special focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan.
- Climate Change Curricula
Meduim Term (1-3 Years)
- Climate Change Databank as a repository of information and data on climate change specific to Pakistan.
- Community Engagement as partners
- Training and Capacity Building of Stakeholders and Institutions at Local and National Levels
- Climate Change Newsletter
Long Term (more than 3 Years)
- Joint Ventures – The Cell will offer itself as a ready partner for climate change projects for educational institutions, Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, civil organizations, national and international agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and think tanks. The Cell will have a network of researchers who will be available for project design and management.
- Consultancy Services – Using its network of researchers and experts, the Cell can provide consultancy services for a broad range of situations and projects.
- Environmental Scanning to identify climate-related threats and to develop and implement adaptation strategies based on scenarios developed by the Cell.
Coordination and Collaboration of Climate Change Cell (CCC) with other Departments of SBBWUP and Various Government Departments and Organizations
- Economic Impacts of Climate Change (Economics Department)
- Public Policy and Comparative Politics of Climate Change (Political Science Department)
- Industry (Chemistry Department, Bio-Chemistry, Department Microbiology, Department Bio-Informatics)
- Sustainable Tourism (Economics Department, Department of Management Sciences)
- Bio-Diversity and Ecosystems (Zoology Department, Microbiology Department)
- Green Business and Risk Management (Department of Management Sciences)
- Energy Resources (Physics Department)
- Legal Aspects (Law Department)
- IT Centre, SBBWUP
- Educational Institutions
- Government Departments
- Local and International Organizations